Lee Dong-gun explained

Lee Dong-gun
Birth Date:1980 7, df=y
Birth Place:Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea
Years Active:1998–present
Agent:FNC Entertainment
Children:1
Module:
Child:yes
Hangul:이동건
Rr:I Dong-geon
Mr:I Tongkŏn

Lee Dong-gun (pronounced as /ko/; born 26 July 1980) is a South Korean actor and singer.

Career

Lee Dong-gun made his debut in the entertainment industry in 1998 as a singer, but he would later gain fame as an actor, starring in television dramas such as Sweet 18, Lovers in Paris, and Stained Glass.[1] [2]

Lee took a break from acting in 2005, claiming he felt overwhelmed with his workload in both television and film.[3] He resumed his work in 2006, with Smile Again.

During a fan meeting event in Japan held on 5 December 2005, Lee announced the release of his first photobook which also included a making-of DVD, poster and postcard. The success of Lovers in Paris along with promotions for his new film My Boyfriend Is Type B helped to increase his popularity in Japan.[4] [5]

Lee participated in the Hallyu Expo in Asia on Jeju island which commenced on 28 November 2006 and spanned a total of 100 days. This large-scale event was intended to promote Korean culture across Asia and expected to bring in 150,000 tourists to stimulate the local economy.[6] [7] He also attended the sequel to the Hallyu Expo which was held in Japan titled FACE in Japan Premium Event. This two-day event from 14 to 15 August 2007, featured Korean celebrities with large fanbases and was intended as a cultural exchange program between Korea and Japan.[8]

Lee released a 14-track album titled My Biography in 2008, his first full-length album in a decade.[9] It included 6 Korean songs, 6 Japanese songs and 2 instrumentals. It was first released in Japan before becoming available in Korea.[10] The same year, he starred in the television series Night After Night alongside Kim Sun-ah,[11] and starred alongside an ensemble cast in the romance film Love Now.[12]

In December 2011, three months prior to the completion of his mandatory military service, Lee signed with talent agency Mask Entertainment.[13] [14] After the termination of his contract with Mask Entertainment,[15] [16] Lee signed with FNC Entertainment in November 2012.[17] [18]

In 2013, Lee was cast in the lead role for the time-travel romance Marry Him If You Dare.[19] This was followed in 2015 by the titular role in cable series Super Daddy Yeol, which was based on the webtoon of the same name.[20] [21] In 2016, Lee starred in the family drama The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop.[22] He also starred in his first Chinese drama, Hello Mr. Right alongside actress Guan Xiaotong.[23]

In the historical drama Queen for Seven Days, Lee impressed viewers with his a wide range of emotions and acting performance with his role as the tyrannical Joseon ruler Yeonsangun.[24] He then starred in action drama Sketch, playing a member of a special operations command who seeks revenge for the death of his wife;[25] [26] and slice-of-life drama Where Stars Land.[27]

In 2019, Lee was cast in the fantasy romance drama .[28]

Personal life

On 20 March 2008, Lee's 19-year-old brother Lee Joon-yub, a student at the University of Sydney, was fatally stabbed during a brawl with two Chinese teenage gang members at Hungry Jack's in World Square, Sydney.[29] The victim's friend, 22-year-old Song Jung-ho, was critically injured but survived.[30] Lee flew to Sydney to identify his brother's body and attend a requiem mass at the Chapel of St. John's College; after cremation, his family brought back Lee Joon-yub's ashes to Seoul.[31]

Military service

Lee enlisted for his mandatory military service on 15 June 2010 at the 102 Reserves in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province for four weeks of basic training followed by 21 months of active duty.[32] He served at the Defense Media Agency of the Ministry of National Defense and was appointed Honorary Ambassador of Military.[33] He was discharged on 28 March 2012, and on the same day, he was appointed promotional ambassador for the 2012 Korean Formula One Grand Prix held at the Korea International Circuit in October.[34]

Relationship and marriage

On 28 February 2017, Lee Dong-gun was confirmed to be dating Jo Yoon-hee, his co-star in The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop.[35] On 2 May, Lee announced that they have registered their marriage and are expecting their first child.[36] [37] The couple held a private wedding ceremony on 29 September[38] and welcomed a baby girl on 14 December 2017.[39] On May 29, 2020, they divorced due to irreconcilable differences.[40]

Discography

Albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart
positions
Sales
KOR
[41]
JPN
[42]
Korean
Time to Fly
  • Released: 8 November 1998
  • Label: NULE Entertainment
  • Format: CD, cassette
Much More
  • Released: 1 June 2000
  • Label: NULE Entertainment
  • Format: CD, cassette
42
Japanese
Beautiful Beginning (美しいはじまり)
  • Released: 29 April 2005
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
rowspan="3"
My Biography (マイ・バイオグラフィ) 108
The Key to Myself (ザ・キー・トゥ・マイセルフ)
  • Released: 4 March 2009
  • Label: Sony Music Japan
  • Format: CD
262
"—" denotes album did not chart or was not released in that region.

Singles

Filmography

Television series

width=10YearTitleRoleNetworkNotes
1999 Ad Madness KBS2
2002 FriendsPark Kyung-joo MBC
Ruler of Your Own World Han Dong-jin
2003 Sang Doo! Let's Go to School Kang Min-suk KBS2
A Problem at My Younger Brother's House Park Sang-gu SBS
2004 Sweet 18 Kwon Hyuk-joonKBS2
Lovers in Paris Yoon Soo-hyukSBS
Stained Glass Han Dong-joo/Yuichi Yamamoto
2006 Smile Again Ban Ha-jin
If in Love... Like Them Jeong-tae
2008 Night After Night Kim Bum-sang MBC
Star's Lover Hyun-joonSBS
2013 Marry Him If You Dare Kim Shin KBS2
2015 Super Daddy Yeol Han Yul
2016The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop Lee Dong-jin KBS2
2017 Queen for Seven Days
2018 Sketch Kim Do-jin JTBC
Where Stars Land Seo In-woo SBS
2019 Ji Kang-woo KBS2
LeverageLee Tae-joonTV Chosun

Web series

YearTitleRolePlatformNotes
2016Hello Mr. RightZhou YutengiQiyiChinese drama
2022Kiss Sixth SenseHong Sung-joonDisney+Cameo (Ep. 1, 10-12)
2023CelebrityJin Tae-jeonNetflix[44]

Film

width=10YearTitleRoleNotes
2002 Family Ha Yong-cheol
2005 My Boyfriend Is Type B Young-bin
2007 Love Now Park Yong-jun

Music video

Musical theatre

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
20042nd Andre Kim Best Star AwardsBest Star Award [45]
Excellence Award, Actor Sweet 18
Top Excellence Award, Actor Lovers in Paris, Stained Glass
Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Lovers in Paris
Top 10 Stars Lovers in Paris, Stained Glass
Dong-a TV Fashion Beauty AwardsBest Dressed
200541st Baeksang Arts AwardsMost Popular Actor (Film)My Boyfriend Is Type B
42nd Grand Bell AwardsBest New Actor
200845th Baeksang Arts AwardsMost Popular Actor (TV)Night After Night
Seoul Hallyu FestivalPlaque of Appreciation
25th Korea Best Dresser Swan AwardsBest Dressed Actor
45th Grand Bell AwardsBest New ActorLove Now
MBC Drama AwardsExcellence Award, actor Night After Night
2013KBS Drama AwardsBest Couple Award with Yoon Eun-hyeMarry Him If You Dare
Excellence Award, Actor in Miniseries
2015Hallyu Star Award[46]
2016KBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a Serial DramaThe Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop [47]
2017KBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length DramaQueen for Seven Days[48]
2018SBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday DramaWhere Stars Land
2023SBS Entertainment AwardsHot Issue AwardMy Little Old Boy[49]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kim. Sun-woo. Lovers in Paris Hits Highest Viewing Rate of 51.5 Percent. The Dong-a Ilbo. 9 July 2015. 9 August 2004.
  2. Web site: Suh. Jung-bo. Lee Dong-gun at the Japan Location Shoot of Yuriwha. The Dong-a Ilbo. 9 July 2015. 15 November 2004.
  3. Web site: Lee Dong-geon to Suspend His Acting for the Year. 26 January 2005. 6 May 2014. KBS Global.
  4. Web site: Lee Dong-gun enraptures Japanese fans at hallyu star meeting. 6 December 2005. 6 May 2014. KBS Global.
  5. Web site: The comic perils of dating a type-B. 2 February 2005. Korea JoongAng Daily.
  6. Web site: Lee. Min-a. Waves of teenage screams sweep across Jeju island as hallyu celebrates. 8 February 2007. 6 May 2014. Korea JoongAng Daily.
  7. Web site: Cho. Chung-un. First Korean Wave Expo kicks off in Jeju. 29 November 2006. 6 May 2014. The Korea Herald via Hancinema.
  8. Web site: Korean Stars To Visit Japan in August. 25 July 2007. 6 May 2014. KBS Global.
  9. Web site: Lee Dong-gun Releases First Album in Korea in 10 Years. 20 August 2008. 6 May 2014. KBS Global.
  10. Web site: Lee Dong-geon's new album, My Biography. 15 August 2008. 6 May 2014.
  11. Web site: Lee Dong-gun, Kim Sun-ah "When It's at Night" – Enters filming this month. 17 April 2008. HanCinema.
  12. Web site: Glam affairs need dose of agony. 18 April 2008. Korea JoongAng Daily.
  13. Web site: Hong. Lucia. Lee Dong-gun signs with new talenthouse. 4 April 2013. 10Asia. 5 December 2011.
  14. Web site: Lee. In-kyung. Lee Dong Gun Announces He Has Entered a New Agency. 4 April 2013. enewsWorld. 5 December 2011. 15 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141015221221/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/1930/lee-dong-gun-announces-he-has-entered-a-new-agency. dead.
  15. Web site: Oh. Esther. Lee Dong Gun to Terminate Contract with His Agency. 4 April 2013. enewsWorld. 9 October 2012.
  16. Web site: Oh. Esther. MASK Entertainment Denies Reports that Lee Dong Gun is Terminating His Contract. 4 April 2013. enewsWorld. 9 October 2012.
  17. Web site: Lee. Tae-ho. Actor Lee Dong-gun Inks Exclusive Contract with FTIsland, CNBLUE's Agency. 5 February 2013. 10Asia. 27 November 2012.
  18. Web site: Hong. Grace Danbi. Lee Dong Gun Becomes Family with CN Blue, FT Island, Juniel, and More. 4 April 2013. enewsWorld. 28 November 2012.
  19. Web site: Jeon. Su-mi. CN Blue's Jung Yong Hwa, Yun Eun Hye and Lee Dong Gun Confirmed for Drama The Choice of the Future. enewsWorld. 9 July 2015. 27 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150711044635/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/44413/the-choice-of-the-future-confirms-its-lead-cast. 11 July 2015. dead.
  20. Web site: Ahn. Sung-mi. Forget the villain: Lee returns as doting mom in new rom-com. The Korea Herald. 9 July 2015. 11 March 2015.
  21. Web site: Kim. Ji-min. Super Daddy draws on heartbreaking storyline. Korea JoongAng Daily. 9 July 2015. 13 March 2015.
  22. Web site: Lee, Jo sign on for KBS2 drama 'Gentleman'. 24 June 2016. Korea JoongAng Daily.
  23. Web site: Lee Dong Gun To Be A Popular Actor in China. 15 July 2015. BNT News.
  24. Web site: Lee Dong-gun shines as tyrant of Joseon era. Kpop Herald. 7 July 2017.
  25. Web site: Rain, Lee Dong-gun cast for cop series 'Sketch'. 6 March 2018. Yonhap News Agency.
  26. Web site: Lee Dong-gun, Rain to star as investigators in 'Sketch'. 6 March 2018. Kpop Herald.
  27. Web site: [단독]이동건, '여우각시별' 출연..이제훈X채수빈과 만남]. 30 July 2018. Star News. ko.
  28. Web site: http://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1111066322. ko:이동건, '단 하나의 사랑' 발레단 예술감독 役 출연 확정..신혜선·엘과 호흡 [공식입장]. 17 January 2019. Osen. ko.
  29. Web site: City stab victim brother a film star. The Daily Telegraph. 22 March 2008. 9 July 2015.
  30. Web site: Gee. Steve. TV star mourns brother killed in Hungry Jacks brawl. The Daily Telegraph. 9 July 2015. 27 March 2008.
  31. Web site: Chung. Ah-young. Stars Join in Mourning for Death of Actors Brother. The Korea Times. 9 July 2015. 30 March 2008.
  32. Web site: Ko. Jae-wan. Lee Dong-gun enters military Korean military. 4 April 2013. 10Asia. 15 June 2010.
  33. Web site: Lee Dong-gun appointed celebrity military officer. 10Asia. 9 July 2015. 23 July 2010.
  34. Web site: Lee Dong-gun Completes Military Service. The Chosun Ilbo. 29 March 2012. 30 March 2012.
  35. Web site: Actor Lee Dong-gun dating fellow drama star Cho Youn-hee. 28 February 2017. Yonhap News Agency.
  36. Web site: Actor Lee Dong-gun weds drama co-star Cho Youn-hee. The Korea Herald. 2 May 2017. 2 May 2017.
  37. Web site: Actor Lee Dong-gun weds drama co-star Cho Youn-hee. 2 May 2017. Yonhap.
  38. Web site: Lee, Jo hold private wedding reception. 30 September 2017. Korea JoongAng Daily.
  39. Web site: Actress Jo Yoon-hee Gives Birth. 18 December 2017. The Chosun Ilbo.
  40. Web site: 배우 이동건-조윤희 3년 만에 이혼. 28 May 2020.
  41. Web site: K-pop Album Sales Volume. Recording Industry Association of Korea. ko. 15 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810045003/http://www.riak.or.kr/chart/mcdc.asp. 10 August 2015. dead.
  42. Web site: Lee Dong-gun Album Sales Ranking. Oricon. ja. 15 July 2018.
  43. Web site: June 2000 K-pop Album Sales Volume. Recording Industry Association of Korea. ko. 15 July 2018.
  44. Web site: Moon Ji-yeon . May 26, 2022 . [공식] '셀러브리티' 박규영·강민혁·이청아 캐스팅..넷플릭스 확정 ]. [Official] 'Celebrity' Park Gyu-young, Kang Min-hyuk, Lee Cheong-ah Casting... Netflix Confirmed . May 26, 2022 . . ko . Naver.
  45. Web site: Fashion Designer Andre Kim Gives Out Best Star Awards. 16 November 2004. The Korea Times.
  46. Web site: Kim Soo-hyun wins grand prize at APAN Star Awards. 29 November 2015. Kpop Herald.
  47. Web site: Winners of the 2016 KBS Drama Awards. 3 January 2017. Asia Pacific Daily.
  48. Web site: KBS Drama Awards 2017: Kim Young Chul, Chun Ho Jin share grand prize; complete winners list. 1 January 2018. International Business Times.
  49. Web site: 2023-12-30 . Winners Of The 2023 SBS Entertainment Awards . 2024-01-11 . . en.